Moisture-supplying attachment foe



W. M. THOMAS.

MOISTURE SUPPLYING ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.-

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1915.

L1 9mm Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

awoa/whoz W. M. THOMAS.

. MOISTURE SUPPLYING ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29. 1915.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UIIMTEU entries FFTUE.

WILLIAM M. THOMAS, OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICU, ASSIGNOR 0F THREE-TENTHS TO A. W. GOODRICH AND FQUEs-TENTHS TO C. M. BARBER, 0F ALBUQUERQUE, NEW

MEXICO.

MOISTUBE-SUPPLYIHG ATTACHMENT FOR, INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

nieaoee;

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented ne 1,1916.

Application filed Juice 29, 1915. Serial No. 37,054.

combustion engines, the primary object of my invention being the provision of means for supplying moisture or moistened air to,

the explosive mixture as it passes from the carburetor to the intake manifold of the engine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the above described character which ,will not only supply moisture to the carbureted gas as it comes from the carbureter, but which will also thoroughly mix the carbureted gas and moist air before it enters the manifold.

In this connection, my invention comprehends a mixing device, claimed in a copending application filed by me December 14:, 1915, Serial No. 66,759, adapted to be inserted between a carburetor and intake manifold and a co-acting vaporizing cup adapted for connection between the water j acketing of the engine and the mixing de vice and capable of supplying moisture to the mixing device.

,With these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, then specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form a part of this application.

lin the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional form of internal combustion engine, showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the mixing device; Fig. 3 is a section on the l1ne3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is a perspective view of the various parts of the mixing device in unassembled position; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating one manner ofsecuring the vaporizing cup to the engine casing; Fig. 6 is a central, vertical sectional view taken through the vaporizing cup.

Corresponding and like arts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

My lmproved mixing device may be constructed as a part of the carburetor proper, as a part of the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, or as an independent and detachable unit adapted to be interposed between the carbureter and manifold, thelatter being the preferred method of construction.

The device includes a body portion 10, formed of metal or other suitable material and preferably either elliptical or rhombic shaped in plan view to correspond in general outline to the outline of the flanges 11 and 12 of the carbureter 13 and intake manifold 14, respectively, between whichit is to be connected. For this purpose, it is provided adjacent its ends with bolt receiving bores by means of which bolts. 15' may be applied to secure it in place, metallic gaskets or packing rings being usually interposed between its faces and the flanges of'the manifold and carbureter. This body member is provided centrally with a gas opening or passage 16 substantially equal in diameter to the internal diameter of the outlet passage of the carburetor and the intake passage of the manifold and so disposed with respect to the bolt receiving openings as to extend in alinement with such passages and in effect form a continuation of them. As best shown in Figs. 2 and- 4 of the drawings, this passage, at its outlet end, is somewhat enlarged to provide a stop shoulder 17, for a reason which will be later explained, and the passage, intermediate its length, is re cessed or cut-away to form an annular chamber 18 completely surrounding it. The side wall of the body 10 is provided with a passage 19 communicating withthe chamber 18 and tapped at its outer end to receive the threaded end of a pipe 20 leading to a man- ,ually operable cut-ofi cock 21.

-where they cross each other, being either bent out of the way for that purpose or fitted together in any suitable manner. That face of each pipe or tube which is directed toward the outlet end of the passage 16 is provided with a series of perforations 24 through which any moistened air admitted to the chamber 18 may be drawn by suction of the engine. In order to thoroughly mix the explosive mixture supplied from the carbureter with the moistened air supplied from the chamber 18, I'provide a screen 25 of any suitable foraminous material, preferably fine wire gauze, which screen also. serves as a filter, is generally reinforced pe-' ripherally by a metallic ring-26, the pe ripheral edge of the screen and ring seating against the shoulder 17, as best shown in Fig. 2.

A pipe 27 leads from the inlet ort of the cut-ofl cook 21 to the outlet port of the vaporization cup 29.- This cup includes a tubular body portion 30, preferably of glass, closed at its ends by flanged caps 31 and 32, suitable gaskets or packing rings 33, of rubber or other preferred material, being interposed to form tight joints. The caps 31 and 32 are provided with radially extending spaced ears 34 to receive tie bolts 35 which, with their nuts 36, provide means for clamping the caps against the ends of the tube 30. The cap 31 is formed with an internally threaded nipple 37 recessed to provide a semi-spherical valve seat 38 to receive the ball valve 39 carried by the end of a valve stem l0 which extends through a float 41 and is adjustably secured to the float by means of a nut42 which is ordinarily so adjusted that a level of a quarter of an inch or more of water in the bottom of the cup will close the valve 39. The cap 32 is provided with a tapped opening 45 and any suitable type of union couplings 4:7 and 48 serve to connect the vaporization cup to the pipe 27 and to a pipe 49, the opposite end of which is threaded or otherwise connected to an opening formed in the water jacketing 50 of the engine, at any suitable point above thelevel of the cup 29.

lnoperation, the cut-off cook 21 is open to any suitable extent, dependent upon the amount of moistened air which the operator desires to supply to the manifold 14 and the engine then run in the usual manner. It will be clear that, due to the close proximity of the vaporization cup to the engine, the small amount of water contained therein will soon be heated and the steam or moist air thus generated will be drawn by the engine through the pipes 27 and 20 into the chamber 18 of the mixer and from this chamber through the perforated pipes or tubes 23 into the gas passage 16 and so, together with the explosive mixture from the carbureter, through the screen 25 to the manifold Hand so to the engine cylinders. As the water contained in the vaporization cup 29 is withdrawn in the form of vapor, the float 41 will fall, permitting opening of the valve 39 to admit fresh water from the water jacket 50.

By providing means for adding and thoroughly mixing moistened air with the explosive mixture from the carbureter, I prevent formation of carbon in the motor and upon the spark plugs and also increase the life of lubricating oil used in the cylinders and valves. As a result, the motor is smoother running and more powerful than would otherwise be the case.

My improved device may be readily attached to any motor vehicle gas engines now in use without any changes as practically all such engines are provided with one or more plug openings in their water jackets, the plug from which may be removed and replaced by a coupling for the pipe 49. The

vaporization cup may be supported by any suitable form of bracket 4-.3 formed with an eye to receive a bolt in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. This bracket may be supported by one of the bolts 44 securing one of the valve cover plates in place or by one of the bolts connecting the engine cylinder housing to the crank case, as may be most convenient.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a water jacket, an intake manifold and a carbureter ada ted to supply fuel to the intake manifol of a vaporization cup, means for supplying water from the water jacket to the vaporization cup, means for limiting the amount of water in the cup, amixer adapted to be inserted between the manifold and carbureter, and means for supplying moisture from the vaporization cup to the mixer, said mixer including a body having a fuel passage and an annular chamber surrounding the passage, a ring fitting in the passage and forming a wall for the chamber and tubes communicating with the chamber through the ring and formed with perforatior s for the passage of moisture from the tubes to the manifold.

2. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a water jacket, an intake manifold and a carbureter adapted to supply fuel to the intake manifold, of a vaporization cup, means for supplying water from the water jacket to the vaporization cup, means for limiting the amount of water in the cup, a mixer adapted to be inserted between the manifold and carbureter, and means for supplying moisture from the vaporization cup to the mixer, said mixer including a body having a fuel passage and an annular chamber surrounding the passage, a ring fitting in the passage and forming a Wall for the chamber, tubes communieating with the chamber through the ring and formed with perforations for the passage of moisture from the tubes to the manifold, and a mixing screen interposed between the tubes and manifold.

3. A device of the character described including a vaporization cup provided at its lower end with an inlet port and at its upper end with an outlet port, means for connecting the inlet port with the water jacket of an engine, a float valve controlling the level of water admitted through the inlet port, a mixer adapted, to be inserted between a carbureter and intake manifold, and means establishing communication between the:

outlet port of the cup and the mixer.

4. A device of the character described in- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature to in presence of a witness.

W'ILLIAM M. THOMAS. [L. s.] Witness: A W. Goonmon. 

